100th annual NRF convention launches with buzz

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New York City -- The 100th annual “Big Show,” the National Retail Federation’s annual event in New York City, launched at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Sunday, Jan. 9 with a lineup of sessions and plenty of buzz.

One of the most talked-about topics? Facebook has a booth at NRF this year, representing the power that social media does, and will, play in the retail industry.

Sunday’s sessions included a host of discussions around what various facets of the industry want and need -- from “Understand and Respond to the Smarter Consumer’s Wants and Needs,” conducted by author Dan Heath and IBM’s Jill Puleri, to “What Operations Executives Need and Want,” addressed by Pier 1 Imports executive VP stores Sharon Leite and Ratner Cos. senior VP and CFO Ben Teicher.

On tap for Monday are two morning super sessions around retail recovery and what lies ahead, as well as technology-centric discussions such as “The Essential P’s of Retail Leadership,” presented by Jeff Jones, executive VP and COO of Chico’s FAS. Jones will discuss its SAS solution for lifecycle merchandise planning, among other topics.